Search This Blog

The Patios of Cordoba - UNESCO Site

The application, which was denied last year, has now been approved and the Patios or Courtyards of Cordoba have been granted the status ¨Intangible Heritage of Humanity.¨ by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural - UNESCO.

The tradition of the locals celebrating spring by decorating their homes, gardens and patios goes back to Roman times and was later resumed by the Moors. In 1933 a competition for Best Patio was inaugerated to keep the tradition alive.

The competition, in May, means private patios are open for the judges and public to visit for twelve days. Maps are provided so you can walk around the tiny back streets and courtyards to see the colourful displays.

The patios also open, this year from 19th Dec to 4th Jan, for a "Christmas in the courtyards of Cordoba" display. The dates for 2013 are 8th -19th May.

Patio at Christmas

The historical centre of Cordoba, home to The Mezquita, Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos and the Torre Fortaleza de la Calahorra, is also on the UNESCO list as a World Heritage Site.

Popular Posts

Spring in the Spanish mountains is usally a riot of colour, this was taken yesterday on our jaunt. We went off-roading in our ancient Suzuki 4x4 to explore more tracks which are great for running, mountain biking, photography and walking.

This is the Sierra Sur de Jaen, the mountain ranges in the south of Jaen province. In over an hour we saw one person in a vehicle otherwise nothing but beautiful scenery and olive groves. Beautiful skies and mountain views faded into the horizon, merging with almost cloudless sky. I love where I live. Fancy a holiday here? Our holiday home is available for rent and for small retreats. No wifi, no phone connection, in the house (in the hamlet, yes) no bars or shops just peace. It's difficult not to relax here.

Today I’m talking to Natali Drake, aka author N J Simmonds, about the first book in her new Fantasy Romance Thriller series ‘The Path Keeper’ part of which is based in Andalucia and so caught my interest and desire to read it.

Over to Natali...
‘The Path Keeper’ is your first novel. How did it feel to be offered a three book deal with Accent Press on your first writing attempt?

Surreal. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, but I didn’t take it up professionally until 2012 (I’m a freelance writer). In September of that year the idea for ‘The Path Keeper’ began niggling away at me and I decided to start a novel in secret. In 2015 I also co-founded The Glass House Girls to which I’ve contributed more than a hundred articles and helped exercise my writing muscles. By the time the book was finished I had the confidence to seek an agent and a year later, after having received forty ‘no, thank you’ emails from publishers, I finally got a yes. I was stunned but also felt relieved,…

Typical plant-filled street with window bars and perfectly clean, I love these narrow Andalusian streets. Tiles, bricks and white-washed walls all add to its charm. This one is in the coastal town of Estepona in Malaga province.